ALFRED GEORGE KVAMMEN 1907-2003

NYHUS, KVAMMEN, BISEK, SANDBECK, SHATTUCK, GANDRUD, DIGRE, ESKRITT, SEIPLE

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 7/12/2005 at 14:30:24

ALFRED GEORGE KVAMMEN

Alfred Kvammen died Sunday, December 21, 2003, at the Aase Haugen Home in Decorah, at the age of 96. Funeral services were held Wednesday, December 24 at Decorah Lutheran Church, Decorah, with Rev. James Glesne, Rev. Bryan Robertson, and Rev. Ole Winter officiating. Interment was in the Lutheran Cemetery. Fjelstul Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Alfred George Kvammen was born September 19, 1907, near Osakis, Minn., the son of Rev. Mads and Karen (Nyhus) Kvammen. Alfred graduated from Decorah High School in 1925. He taught grammar school for a year, and then entered Luther College. Money was scarce and Alfred's education at Luther was prolonged because he had to work to help pay his tuition. One of his jobs was at the Luther College Farm, where he helped with milking the cows plus cultivating and harvesting the crops. He graduated from Luther College in 1931.

In 1934 Alfred was united in marriage with Eleanor Bisek in Britton, S.D. To this union two sons were born: Gary Lou and Alfred Bob LeRoy. Eleanor died of cancer in 1960 at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, Minn.

After graduation, Alfred taught high school and coached basketball and football in New Effington, S.D. His teaching and coaching career continued at Peever and Summit, S.D., where he taught for 13 years. Next he taught and coached basketball and football at Waukon High School in Waukon for five years. He also assisted with coaching football at Luther College for awhile. For his outstanding accomplishments in sports while a student and later as a coach, Alfred was inducted into the Luther College Hall of Fame on October 9, 1976.

Alfred then left coaching and worked for the Iowa State Highway Department. He retired in 1972 and then worked part-time for the Maintenance Department at Luther for 14 years. He retired a second time at the age of 79.

On August 20, 1961, Alfred married Ethel (Sandbeck) Shattuck at St. John's Lutheran Church in Waukon, Iowa. To this union one son was born: Mark Kevin. Ethel had three children from her previous marriage: Sherry Kay, Linda Lou, and Gregory Robert.

Alfred was a member of Decorah Lutheran Church. He was a former member of the church choir and church council. Alfred was a member of the Luren Singing Society for 40 years. He felt very fortunate to have been associated with that fine group and to have had the opportunity to accompany them in many travels, including two concert tours of Norway where acquaintances and re-acquaintance were made among their many relatives there. Alfred was a passionate Luther College sports fan. He liked nature walks and finding things in nature. He enjoyed playing cribbage, pitching horseshoes, and loved singing.

Alfred was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Eleanor; his son, Gary L. Kvammen on August 6, 1990; seven brothers and sisters: Elmer Kvammen, Malvin Kvammen, Olga (Kvammen) Gandrud, Arthur Kvammen, Luella Kvammen, Elwood Kvammen and Kermit Kvammen; and one daughter-in-law, Elaine Kvammen in October of 1981. He is survived by his wife, Ethel of Decorah; two sons, Alfred (Judy) Kvammen of Grants Pass, Ore., and Mark (Susan) Kvammen of Decorah; three step-children: Sherry Digre of Rochester, Minn., Linda Shattuck of Long Beach, Calif., and Gregg (Lois) Shattuck of New Hampton, Iowa; eight grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; four step-great-grandchildren; and two sisters-in-law, Hattie Eskritt of Amherst, Wis., and Helen Seiple of Long Beach, Calif.

Honorary casketbearers were Luther College Athletic Department Coaching Staff (current and former coaches), Rev. Owen Gangstead, Arnold and Arlene Hogenson, and Vernon and Helen Olson.

Casketbearers were Robert Kvammen, Douglas Kubitz, Bryan Shattuck, Sara Shattuck, Kimberly Digre, Michael Digre, Douglas Eskritt, and Gary Kvammen.

©Waukon Standard 2003
source: Waukon Standard, Waukon, Allamakee Co. IA, 12/31/2003